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The design process consists out of multiple phases. Through the research, a list of requirements is made. With the requirements and design challenge in mind, some first ideation is done. Out of these ideations, four concepts were selected. These concepts were analyzed, based on the requirement list and the input of the co-designer. A final concept was chosen, and a prototype was created.  

Requirements

After discussing the different options and choosing a final concept with the co-designer we set a list of requirements: 

FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

  • The product includes all categories specified by the co-designer 

  • Notes are included in the product 

  • The notes should be categorized by changeable themes 

  • There should be a feature for portable notes 

  • There should be a feature for a to do list 

  • The notes should be easily accessible 

  • The notes that are used for the product should be standard notes 

  • The product can be portable 

  • There should be no need to rewrite notes

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS 

  • The notes should be visible in one clear overview at once 

  • Product should be able to close, making the notes not visible anymore 

  • Basic colors such as black and white will be used for the product design 

  • The product is not bigger than an A3 size when it is closed 

  • There is a manual for the product 

  • The notes can be stamped with a designed layout 

  • The size of the notes is standardized (75x75) mm 

Ideation

During the co-design meeting many aspects of the product were discussed, with that information in mind, the Ideation phase could be started. There were different types of products that came out of this, some of them were closer to already existing products, but adapted to our user, others were more different and innovative. 

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Conceptualization

Based on the requirements, the ideation sketches were analyzed. The most promising ideas were selected and put together into four different concepts.  

The folder

The hole board gives the option to store a large number of holes. The holes create the option of removing and prioritizing the screws and boxes. The screws allow the user to have a maximum number of possible notes, it restricts the user. The boxes can be categorized.  

The Snake

This concept is based on an organizer drawer. On top of the drawer, there will be all the elements that are necessary for the notes: a pen, post-its, extra portable notebook. Inside the drawers, the notes can be categorized by the user’s categories. The categories are erasable and can be written on the whiteboard labels on the drawers. A disadvantage of this concept is that the user will not have a complete overview of the notes in one look. An advantage of this concept is that everything is placed together and has a certain place on top of the drawer. Another advantage is that, as stated in the requirements, when the drawer is closed, the notes will not be visible anymore.   

The Board

This concept is called "The Snake”; the name comes from its ability to open and close every panel it has, and when not fully stretched, it looks like a snake. Fully clapped out, it is a big rectangle with different panels. It gives the user a good overview of what tasks still need to be done and everything can be seen in one look. Each of these panels stands for a different category which can be changed by using the whiteboard part of the box. When the user wants to put it away, it can be folded into a smaller compact square, giving a big advantage because it can be stored easily. It also has an extra panel with a to-do list on it, which only allows the to-do list to show while the product is folded.  

The drawer

The folder concept is based on an already existing product which is a folder with lots of different options for storing things, like documents, sticky notes, pens, and other items, as well as being able to carry everything around in a simple "folder” with everything you need inside. 

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Decision table

Four different concepts have been created. To determine which concept should be further developed, a decision table was created. This table checks each concept on the main requirements. The snake concept is labeled with the highest number of points and fulfills the requirements the most.  

Prototype

After deciding on the final concept, a prototype had to be formed. For the prototype a solid works model was created to simulate how the product would work and look like. The plan initially was to make the product of plastic, but due to restrains it was made out of sheet metal. As can be seen here in the simulation; The product consists of 6 metal plates connected through hinges. These hinges were spot welded on the plates, and this was done in such a way that they can be neatly stacked upon another. This made sure that when the product is not in use, it is compact and easily put out of sight

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After some renditions from this prototype, the decision was made to add an extra panel to the side. This was at the request of the participant. The extra panel was connected in the same way as the other panels, with the difference that this panel would stay up front when everything is packed together. This way it can still be used when it is folded.   

Furthermore the whiteboards were added onto the product. Which gives the following result:

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Team: 

Yael Easton (s2625288)

Sofia de Gruijter Eguiluz (s2571021)

Abby Keus (s2384744) 

Johan Lagemaat (s2367440)

Lara Oosting (s2277344)

Britt van Slooten (s2531690)

Edward de Smalen Sanchez (s2236036) 

Project coordinators: 

Jelle van Dijk

Eva Blokhuis

Niels van Huizen

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contact: 

Jelle.vandijk@utwente.nl 

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